The universe of 10 square meters: Impermanence and the way of life as told in "Hojoki"
The Universe of 100 Square Feet — Impermanence and Lifestyle as Told in "Hojoki"
"The flow of the river never ceases, but there is no water before it."
What do we think when we come across this sentence?
It's not just a literary classic.
It is a quiet question that transcends time and touches the hearts of those of us living in the present.
"Hojoki" is an essay written by Kamo no Chomei in the early Kamakura period.
It is known as one of the "Three Great Essays of Japan" alongside "The Pillow Book" and "Tsurezuregusa."
This is a masterpiece that expresses the ideas of impermanence and seclusion in a poetic style.
However, "Hojoki" is not a serialized literary work.
It is the story of a man who lived through an era of disaster and change.
Reexamine your own life and your heart,
It is a record and a prayer of constantly asking, "What should I let go of and what should I keep?"
A man named Kamo no Chomei
Kamo no Chomei was a poet and essayist who lived from the end of the Heian period to the beginning of the Kamakura period.
Born into a family of Shinto priests at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto, he was a student of Toshie, who had been interested in waka poetry for a long time.
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However, his life as a Shinto priest was not fulfilled, and he lost the political battle.
He left the capital and chose to live in a small hermitage called Hojoan, measuring just one jo square.
His life in the hermitage was crystallized in the work "Hojoki."
Literature of Living with Disaster
The first half of "Hojoki" describes the disasters and misfortunes that Chomei experienced.
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"The people and homes in this world are like this."
[Reference] Kamochoaki's Hojoki
This record is not a silhouette historical document.
It encompasses the general theme of "how to live in a changing world."
In modern times, "Hojoki" is considered to be "the world's oldest disaster literature."
It provides important insights into the relationship between natural disasters and the human psyche.
The way of thinking that resides in a hermitage measuring 100cm square
Chomei's thatched hut is not just a hut.
It is a "free space of mind surrounded by only what is necessary."
He chose to live in harmony with nature, with his hermitage being a portable structure.
The hermitage contained only the bare necessities: bedding, musical instruments, Buddhist altar equipment, and other items.
However, the space was filled with the sounds of the wind, the moonlight, the chirping of insects, and people's memories.
"If you live in the city, your heart is elsewhere."
[Reference] Kamochoaki's Hojoki
This attitude is also present in modern minimalism and sustainable living.
The idea that "living less is living richly"
It speaks to us across 800 years of time.
The Philosophy of Transience and Gifts
The underlying theme of "Hojoki" is the view of impermanence .
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However, Chomei did not lament the impermanence of this world,
By accepting it and quietly observing it,
I felt the preciousness of what is here now.
This idea is close to the fabrics and words that WABISUKE weaves.
Memories contained in a piece of cloth, a prayer entrusted to a gift.
This resonates with the "richness in silence" that Chomei encountered at Hojoan.
The resonance between WABISUKE and "Hojoki"
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It is "a fabric woven with memories" and "words filled with prayers."
The "universe of one jo square" that "Hojoki" speaks of is
This deeply resonates with WABISUKE's depiction of "great meanings residing in small things."
In the past, I have published books such as seasonal color names, gift philosophy, and fabric memory series.
WABISUKE's content can be seen as an attempt to reinterpret Chomei's ideas for the modern era.
Why you should read on now
"Hojoki" is not literature of the past, but a light that illuminates the future.
In times of change,
The question, "What to let go of and what to value" guides our lives.
The universe resides in a hermitage measuring 10 feet square.
It may be a space where you can face the silence deep within your heart.
And in that silence,
I think there may be something we truly want to give, something we want to leave behind.